Car Seat Education Consultant

HealthPartners Clinic Stillwater•Saint Paul, MN

2d•$24 - $36

About The Position

Under the general direction of the Injury Prevention Program, the Car Seat Education Consultant provides in-person education to patients in inpatient and emergency department settings about car seats and roadway safety. The consultant assesses individual needs and provides guidance on car seat selection, direction, location, installation, harnessing, next steps, turnaround time, aftermarket products, and safety in and around cars. The role includes familiarity with Minnesota seat belt and child passenger safety laws and other roadway safety laws. The consultant collaborates with healthcare team members, makes appropriate referrals, completes documentation accurately and promptly, and performs related duties as assigned. The consultant also supports car seat tolerance testing in the Special Care Nursery/NICU, contributes to child passenger safety outreach and inventory, and participates in research and process improvement. The role requires a high level of autonomy and provides primary car seat expertise to patients and their care teams. The position involves direct patient contact and may include work in patient-care areas, small spaces, and varying exterior conditions during vehicle-side education.

Requirements

Completion of a four-year degree, or a two-year degree in a healthcare-related or education field plus two years of work experience in the field of study.
At least six months of experience as a child passenger safety technician or instructor providing community-based and/or clinical-based car seat education.
Current SafeKids Child Passenger Safety Technician certification.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
Knowledge of current child passenger safety best practices, American Academy of Pediatrics position statements, crash dynamics, basic infant and child anatomy and physiology, and basic and complex installation or harnessing problem-solving techniques.
Awareness of emerging car seat technology, car seat types, and how to obtain current information.
Demonstrated competency with various car seat types, seat belts, LATCH, and alternative approved locking mechanisms or methods.
Ability to stay within scope and educate according to best practices and manufacturer requirements for car seats and vehicles.
Ability to communicate effectively with caregivers of all ages and their companions.
Knowledge of teaching and learning principles.
Ability to provide a safe, hands-on learning environment in which caregivers perform the final car seat installation and child harnessing.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patient-care and non-patient-care staff, patients, families, the public, and external agencies.
Ability to manage multiple simultaneous tasks and prioritize appropriately.
Ability to perform basic word processing and communicate clearly in writing and orally.
Ability to participate on an interdisciplinary treatment team.
Ability to work with a high level of autonomy and provide expertise to patients and their care teams.
Ability to meet the physical demands of standing and walking for up to six hours daily, bending and stooping, lifting up to 30 pounds daily, and maneuvering a wheeled vehicle demo seat through halls and patient rooms.

Nice To Haves

At least 12 months of regular, active experience providing child passenger safety education.
Experience in education and/or patient care.
Current SafeKids Child Passenger Safety Instructor certification.
Training in special needs through Safe Travel for All Children.
Identification as a Safe Kids Coalition child passenger safety coordinator and/or technician proxy.

Responsibilities

Assess pediatric and newborn patients’ car seat safety needs based on age, height, and weight, and educate caregivers accordingly.
Provide education consistent with industry standards, best practices, and manufacturer instructions.
Ensure caregivers practice harnessing the child or demonstration doll and installing the car seat in a demo vehicle seat or vehicle.
Review car seat history, condition, labels, and recall status.
Promote child passenger safety best practices within the established plan of care, including safe sleep, and consult the clinical care team when medical conditions may prevent use of a car seat according to manufacturer instructions.
Identify high-risk concerns and refer patients to appropriate resources, including for replacement car seats or age-specific signs of abuse.
Use EPIC to review orders, initiate social work referrals when needed, and document consult visits.
Collaborate with the charge nurse and clinical care team to prioritize patient lists and independently initiate and conduct patient visits.
Assist with car seat tolerance test setup for Special Care Nursery/NICU patients in accordance with manufacturer instructions.
Consult with healthcare team members on best practices and additional support options for car seat tolerance testing.
Provide car seat and harness recommendations to the clinical care team, including low-weight car seat options when appropriate.
Communicate risks and document deviations from manufacturer instructions related to medical conditions.
Offer vehicle-side car seat education to patients discharged from the Special Care Nursery/NICU.
Monitor car seat inventory levels and replace items as needed.
Support outreach events by staffing booths and providing child passenger safety information and education.
Participate in community car seat clinics as needed for recertification or staffing support.
Introduce caregivers to survey processes, obtain consent, and administer surveys accurately.
Protect participant privacy, de-identify survey information, maintain confidentiality of study details as required, and provide research data to the critical care research center promptly.
Participate in research publication and presentation processes and provide feedback to improve processes, workflow, teaching tools, and educational materials.
Maintain professional, respectful, culturally sensitive, and courteous interactions with patients and families; communicate effectively and support patient safety and infection control.
Comply with safety practices, protect confidentiality, maintain regular and timely attendance, and complete mandatory education and organizational requirements.